Foldable utility table with laterally extensible leg means



July l3, 1954 5, J BR 2,683,639

FOLDABLE UTILITY TABLE WITH LATERALLY EXTENSIBLE LEG MEANS Filed Nov. 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Stanley J. Brenny INVENTOR.

July 13, 1954 5. J. BRENNY 2,683,639

FOLDABLE UTILITY TABLE WITH LATERALLY EXTENSIBLE LEG MEANS Filed Nov. 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Stanley J. Brenny IN V EN TOR.

BY (ME/21% Paiented July 13, 1954 FOLDABLE UTILITY TABLE WITH LATER- ALLY EXTENSIBLE LEG MEANS Stanley J. Brenny, Holdingford, Minn. Application November 14, 1951, Serial No. 256,200

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in foldable tables and more particularly to a utility table having means for supporting one or more pans in its top as well as means for supporting a refuse receptacle under an opening in its top to utilize the table for cleaning fish, game, vegetables, and for other purposes.

An important object of the invention is to provide a utility table of this character whereby the legs of the table may be folded and the cleaning pans conveniently removed and carried or stored in a compact form.

Another object of the invention is to provide covers for the openings in the table top and which are positioned flush with the top to enable use of the table for normal purposes.

A still further object is to provide a table top with extensible arms whereby the same may be supported on the sides of a boat or other supporting structure where it is impracticable to use the foldable table legs.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in its use, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view showing the table in open position and with the covers in position in the openings in the top thereof;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the table top with the cleaning pans in position in the openings;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 3-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the pair of cleaning pans attached to each other by the combined clamp and carrying handle;

Figure '7 is a bottom plan view of a modified foldable table;

Figure 8 is a top plan view showing the extensible arms for supporting the table top on the sides of a boat;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one of the extensible arms.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and

first with respect to the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, the numeral 5 designates a table top to the underside of which foldable U-shaped legs 6 are pivoted by means of brackets l for swinging the legs upwardly at the underside of the top into a folded position. The legs are locked in their folded position by swinging catches 8 attached to the underside of the table top. Foldable braces 9 hold the legs in an open position.

The table top 5 is formed with a pair of openings I adjacent the ends thereof and a central opening H. The openings iii are countersunk to provide shoulders H to support the flanges H5 at the edges of a cover i4 fitted in the openings to support the covers flush with the surface of the table. The covers 54 are formed in their upper surfaces with finger-engaging recesses 45 to facilitate lifting the covers from the openings of the table top.

The central opening I I may be beveled as shown at It to support the cover I l for the central opening flush with the table top.

The underside of the table top adjacent the openings I0 is provided with rails 18 of L-shape in cross-section to include flanges l9 on which the outwardly projecting flanges 20 at the edges of a cleaning pan 2! are slidably supported for positioning the pans under the'openings it.

The flanges at one end of the pans are formed. with eyes 22 adapted to align with each other to receive a hinge pin 23 for connecting the pans to each other for folding one upon the other, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. The free edges of the pans are secured in closed position by means of a combined clamp and handle 26 which includes a U-shaped end 25 in which the flanges of the pans are secured by a thumb screw 26. A handle 27 projects outwardly from the U- shaped clamping portion 25 and by means of which the pans may be conveniently carried.

In Figures 7-9, I have illustrated a modified construction wherein the table legs 6 are hollow and provided with laterally extensible arms 32 when folded.

Noting particularly Figure '7, it will be seen that legs 5 are of tubular construction and open at the upper ends thereof so that when the legs are folded under the table top as shown in the figure, extensible arms 32 slidably telescoped within the legs 6 may be extended or projected outwardly through the upper ends of the legs laterally beyond the ends of the table top 5. When so extended, the table top 5 may be supported on the gunwales 34 of a boat or other supporting structure where the use of the folding legs in their vertically extending position would be impractical.

The legs 6 and extensible arms 32 are formed with aligned openings 36 to receive a locking pin 38 to secure the arms 32 within the legs.

To pivot the legs to the underside of the table top without interference to the extensible arms 32, trunnions 40 are threaded into diametrically opposite sides of the legs to terminate substantially flush with the inner wall surfaces of the legs.

In Figure 7 I have illustrated a modified construction wherein the table top 31 is constructed of a pair of sections 32 and 33 connected to each other by hinges 34 for folding the'sections of the top one against the other, and wherein the legs 35 are provided with laterally'extensible arms 36 when folded.

In Figures 8 and 9 the foldable legs 35 are of tubular metal and when in folded position the ends of the legs are adapted to receive extensible arms 35 to project outwardly at the ends of the top 3? to support the top on the sides or gunwales 38 of a boat or other supporting structure where the use of the folding legs is impracticable. The legs 35 and extensible arms 36 are formed with aligned openings 39 to receive a locking pin 40 to secure the arms in the legs and the legs 34 are pivoted to brackets 41 at the underside of the table top by means of trunnions 42 threaded in diametrically opposite sides of the leg to avoid obstruction of the inward sliding movement of the extensible arms 36.

The invention is -designed for use as a fish cleaning or vegetable cleaning table by setting up the table either on the foldable legs or supporting the same on the arms 36 and placing the cleaning pans 2| under the openings to hold water in one pan and the cleaned food in the other. Refuse may be easily scraped into the receptacle 29 at the underside of the central opening ii.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims. Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A table comprising a top and supporting means therefor, said supporting means being disposed at opposite ends of said top for selectively providing lateral and vertical support for the table, said supporting means including legs pivoted to said table adjacent the ends of the top for swinging movement from a vertical position to a folded position underlying the top and extensible means carried by said legs for lateral extension beyond the edges of said top when the legs are in folded position, said legs being tubular and having open upper ends and being pivoted to the table at said upper ends, said extensible means being slidably disposed within said legs and projectable through the upper ends thereof.

2. The combi-nation of claim 1 including brace means releasably retaining said legs in a vertical supporting position and catch means releasably retaining said legs in a folded position.

3. A table comprising a top and supporting means therefor, said supporting means being disposed at opposite ends of said top for selectively providing lateral and vertical support for the table, said supporting means including legs pivoted to said table adjacent the ends of the top for swinging movement from a vertical position to a folded position underlying the top and extensible means carried by said legs for lateral extension beyond the edges of said top when the legs are in folded position, said legs being tubular and having open upper-ends and being pivoted to the table at said upper ends, said extensible means being slidably disposed within said legs and projectable through the upper ends thereof, detachable pin means retaining the extensible means in locked position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 857,228 Boyd June 18, 1907 891,085 Leahy June 16, 1908 930,475 Hooper Aug. 10, 1909 993,169 Hudson May 23, 1911 1,579,823 Langguth Apr. 6, 1926 1,614,539 Ryan Jan. 18, 1927 1,627,454 Phalon ltiay 3, 1927 1,732,520 Leatherman Oct. 22, 1929 1,875,772 Strathaus Sept. 6, 1932 1,888,117 Fox Nov. 15, 1932 1,897,717 Appel Feb. 14, 1933 1,938,964 I-Iogue Dec. 12, 1933 2,474,101 Frothingham et a1. June 21, 1949 2,609,072 Levinson Sept. 2, 1952 2,611,417 Henry Sept. 23, 1952 

